Pivoted spout dispenser



Feb 14, 1967 P. P. STEVENS, JR 3,363,971

PIVOTED SPOUT DI SPENSER Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PETER P STEVENS JR A TTORNEY Feb. 14, 1967 P. P. STEVENS, JR 3,303,971

PIVOTED SPOUT DI SPENSER Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

PETER P STEVE/VS JR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,303,971 PIVOTED SPOUT DISPENSER Peter P. Stevens, Jr., Point Reyes Station, Calif, assignor to Walter Landor, San Francisco, Calif. Filed .Ian. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,963 13 Claims. (Cl. 222-153) This invention relates to a dispenser, and more particularly, to a combined pouring spout and sifter for granulated material or the like which is readily attachable to a container for such material.

Various pouring spouts and sifters have been employed in the past but are not all to be desired. For example, they have been unduly complicated and diflicult to fabricate and have required complex attachment to the container. In addition, they have been awkward to manipulate by the user and not at all pleasing in appearance. Many of them are not tamper proof and also do not have effective means for retaining them in a closed position.

The dispenser of the present invention obviates the above shortcomings. Summarizing the same, it includes a housing adapted to rigidly fit within an aperture in a wall of a container. This housing has substantially parallel, spaced apart, opposite side walls which are adated to project into the interior of the container. A dispensing body open at its bottom and with an upper wall having an exterior surface substantially conforming to the surface of the wall of the container is pivotally mounted between these side walls on an axis transverse to them. The dispensing body also has opposed end walls, one of which has a pouring aperture, and the other of which has sifting apertures. These end walls depend from the above mentioned upper wall parallel to the pivot axis of the body to allow selective pivoting of each end wall to a dispensing position exterior of the container.

A cover guard is removably secured to the housing over the dispensing body to preclude the body from pivoting until it is desired to use the dispenser. Indexing means, which also serves as latching means, positively latches the dispensing body in a closed position between the walls of the housing, and also positively latches the dispensing body whenever pivoted to a dispensing position.

The dispenser is so constructed as to be substantially flush with the wall of the container upon which it is mounted for easy stacking of a plurality of the containers. In addition, any surfaces of the dispenser which are exterior to the container are of simple configuration and generally conform to the surface of the container Wall on which the dispenser is mounted to effect a pleasing appearance. Construction of the dispenser is such that it can be easily inserted into an aperture of a container wall during assembly without requiring complicated fastening means in order to hold it rigidly in the aperture. Also, its structure enables all parts of the dispenser to be advantageously made of any suitable plastic material by conventional molding techniques.

From the preceding, it is seen that the invention has as its objects, among others, the provision of an improved dispenser for pourable material or the like which has a plurality of forms of dispensing openings; which is easily manipulatable; can be made by conventional molding techniques; and which is tamper proof and can be easily attached to a container. Other objects will become apparent from a perusal of the following more detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a container depict ing the dispenser of the invention attached to the top wall thereof;

FIGURE la is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a plane along line 1a1a of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 1b is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a plane along line 1b-1b of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a partial isometric view of the container of FIGURE 1 depicting the dispenser pivoted to a pouring position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the dispenser pivoted to another pouring position;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded isometric view of the dispenser and the top wall of a container;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a container showing the dispenser assembled therein, portions of the structure being broken away to disclose the construction;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a mold force block for use in constructing the housing portion of the dispenser;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6 and including a cavity block in position on the force block;

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a mold force block for use in constructing the dispensing body of the dispenser;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, and illustrating a cavity block in position on the force block of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the force and cavity blocks taken in a plane along the line 10-10 in FIGURE 9.

A plastic dispenser 11 of the present invention is shown generally in FIGURES 1 through 3 inserted in the top wall 12 of a conventional paperboard container 13. Dispenser 11 comprises a housing 14 and a dispensing body 16 open at its bottom pivotally mounted therein. Housing 14 has a rim 17 entirely about the periphery thereof and seated on top wall 12 of container 13. As shown in FIGURE 1, before the dispenser is opened for use a removable cover guard 18 is integrally connected with rim 17 and overlies flush against a flat upper wall 19 of dispensing body 16. Guard 18 is only connected to rim 17 along opposed edges thereof by a very thin portion of material, as shown at 21 in FIGURE la, to enable the guard to be readily broken from the rim. To facilitate such removal of guard 18, tabs 22 are provided on each end thereof. From FIGURE 1b, it can be seen that tabs 22 have nubs 23 on the bottom thereof. Thus, since flat upper wall 19 of the dispensing body is flush against cover guard 18, tabs 22 are forced upward and, therefore, can be easily grasped to remove guard 18.

Once guard 18 is removed to expose dispensing body 16, the dispensing body can be pivoted to the dispensing positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. From these figures, it can be seen that one end wall 24, which is convexly arcuate in one direction, of body 16 has a relatively large pouring aperture 26 while an opposite end wall- 27, which is also convexly arcuate in one direction, has a plurality of relatively small sifting apertures 28. The axis of curvature of end walls 24 and 27 is also the pivot axis of the dispensing body. Therefore, the curve of end walls 24 and 27 is such that rim 17 does not interfere with them when body 16 is pivoted.

Guard 18 has application apart from the particular dispenser described herein. For example, such a guard can be provided on the housing of a pivotally mounted dispenser made of moldable material and which has a dispensing aperture only at one end thereof.

.The dispenser is desirably positioned in top wall 12 of the container with large pouring aperture 26 closely adjacent a side of the container to facilitate pouring of the contents from the container. In dispensing material through the plurality of small apertures 28, namely, by sifting, it is usual to shake the container. Hence, the position of sifting apertures 28 is relatively immaterial.

From the above, it can be seen that the dispenser is substantially flush with the top wall of the container and, therefore, a plurality of such containers can be easily stacked on top of one another. In addition, it is readily apparent that the dispenser can be easily used for either pouring or sifting. Before the first use, guard 18 is removed by pulling on either of tabs 22. Then to either pour or sift the contents from the container, an end of dispensing body 16 is depressed toward the interior of the container to expose the end wall on the opposite end.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, housing 14 is generally rectangularly shaped in horizontal cross section with parallel side walls 29 and 31 integrally connected to arcuate, outwardly curved or convex end walls 32 and 33. In each of side walls 29 and 31, there is provided a pivot hole 34, one of which is depicted in wall 29. These holes are opposite each other and are adapted to receive pivoting nubs 36 on the dispensing body. To obviate interference from the arcuate end walls 32 and 33 during pivoting of dispensing body 16, the pivot axis through pivot holes 34 is also the axis of curvature of end walls 32 and 33. End walls 24 and 27 of body 16 are therefore concentric with end walls 32 and 33. Desirably, the pivot axis and hence pivot holes 34, are both below the horizontal center line of walls 29 and 31; the lower the better. Consequently, whenever body 16 is pivoted, more than half of it can be pivoted above the container wall to provide a large dispensing area. In addition, this positioning of the pivot axis is advantageous for constructional purposes which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Housing 14 also has longitudinal integral bars 37, one along each of the exterior surfaces of the side walls 29 and 31. A similar bar 38 is provided along the exterior surface of each of the arcuate end walls 32 and 33. In addition, arcuate end walls 32 and 33 each have shoulders 39 directly below the rim 17. These shoulders 39 and bars 37 and 38 cooperate with flaps formed on the container to hold the housing 14 rigidly within a rectangular aperture 41 in wall 12 of container 13.

Aperture 41 is of a size to just receive the lower edge of housing 14, but not permit rim 17 to pass therethrough. Flaps 42 and 43 are integral with top wall 12 of the container and depend from the edges of aperture 41. These flaps 42 and 43 have a Width substantially equal to the distance between rim 17 and bars 37 and 38, respectively, and, with top wall 12, are made of a flexible material, desirably paperboard. Thus, dispenser 11 can be inserted into aperture 41 until rim 17 is seated on top wall 12 of container 13. As shown in FIGURE 5, flaps 42 and 43 engage bars 37 and 38, respectively, thereby preventing removal of the dispenser once it is inserted into top wall 12. Shoulders 39 engage edges 47 of aperture 41 and thereby prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the dispenser 11 within the aperture. Thus, dispenser 11 is rigidly and securely clamped on top wall 12 of the container within aperture 41, without requiring extraneous fastening means or complicated assembly techniques.

Dispensing body 16, also generally rectangularly shaped in cross section, comprises the aforementioned convexly arcuate end walls 24 and 27, and planar, parallel side Walls 49 and 51. The dispensing body thus has an inverted trough configuration. Pivoting nubs 36, mentioned before, project from side walls 49 and 51. The distance of these pivoting nubs from upper wall 19 is such that when they are positioned within pivot holes 34, upper wall 19 is in engagement with the bottom surface of guard 18.

Side Walls 49 and 51 of the dispensing body are in faceto-face engagement with the side walls 29 and 31 of the housing. Side wall 49 of dispensing body 19 is provided with two projections or stop bars 52 and 53 along the lower edge thereof. Stop bars 52 and 53 cooperate with edges 54 and 56 of triangularly shaped cut-out portions 57 and 58, respectively, in wall 29 of housing 14 to limit the pivot motion of the dispensing body 16. That is, when dispensing body 16 is pivoted to the dispensing position shown in FIGURE 2 stop bar 53 engages edge 56, and when the dispensing body is pivoted to the position shown in FIGURE 3, bar 52 engages edge 54. Thus, pivoting of the dispensing body beyond the dispensing positions is prevented.

The aforementioned indexing means for latching dispensing body 16 in its respective pivoted positions or in a closed position comprises an indexing nub 59 between bars 52 and 53 on side wall 49 which cooperates with three positioning indentations 61, 62 and 63 on wall 29 of housing 14. When dispensing body 16 is in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 5 with upper wall 19 substantially flush with top wall 12 of container 13, indexing nub 59 is engaged within position indentation 62. However, if pressure, such as by a finger, is brought tobear downward against one end of the upper wall 19, the positioning nub is forced from indentation 62. When dispensing body 16 is in a fully pivoted position, nub 59 engages one of the indentations 61 and 63 to hold body 16 in such position. Dispensing body 16 can be returned to the closed position by simply pushing downward on the raised end of upper wall 19, thereby disengaging nub 59 and returning body 16 to the closed position.

As mentioned before, the dispenser is desirably made of moldable material such as plastic by conventional molding techniques. FIGURES 6 through 10 depict force and cavity blocks for making the housing 14 and the dispensing body 16 by injection molding. The force block 66 for the housing (FIGURE 6) is of generally conventional structure with ridge 67 about its lower periphery to engage a conventional retainer plate, and bores 68 for ejection pins at the corners of the force to facilitate removal of the molded housing. The force block also has triangular projections 69 and 71 to form cut-out portions 57 and 58 in wall 29 of the housing, and semi-circular projections 72 to form indexing indentations 61, 62 and 63. The top surface 73 of the force has a cut-out portion to form guard 18 with tabs 22. Note that the tab forming portions of the cut-out is deeper at the portions 74 in order to provide nubs 23 discussed earlier, and that the longitudinal edges 76 of the cut-out portions are raised in order to provide the thin connecting portions 21 between guard 18 and rim 17.

Surfaces 77 of the force are arcuate in order to form the arcuate end walls 32 and 33 of the housing. A protruding cylindrical nub 78 is also provided on each longi tudinal side 79 of the force in order to form pivot holes 34 in parallel side wall 29 and 31. These projecting nubs define the axis of curvature of surfaces 77. In order that the finished housing'can be removed from force 66, these nubs are below the center of side 79 and near the bottom edge thereof. Therefore, the bottom edges of force surfaces 77 are not appreciably inward of an upper portion thereof, and therefore the bottom portions of end walls 32 and 33 of the molded housing will not be sufficiently inward of an upper portion of force surfaces 77 to preclude removal of the housing from the force without breakage.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the cavity block 80 is also conventionally made with a ridge 67, and has grooves 81, 82 and 83 for forming the bars 37, 38, rim 17 and shoulders 39. A runner 84 for providing plastic to the mold is: shown formed into the cavity block. Cavity block 80 is. separable at its midpoint 86 in order that the two halves 87 and 88 can be individually removed from the force by longitudinal sliding thereof. Thus, the removal of the: cavity block will not interfere with bars 37 and 38, pivoting holes 34 or rim 14 of the finished housing. While sur-- faces 89 for forming the exterior surfaces of end walls 32 and 33 are desirably arcuate in order that the end walls will not vary in thickness for the saving of material, they need not be.

The force and cavity set for forming the dispensing body 16 is shown in FIGURES 8 through 10. The force block 91 is also conventionally provided with ridge 92 for engagement with a retainer plate, and bores 94 for ejection pins. The surfaces 96 are desirably arcuate in order that end walls 24 and 27 be of a consistent thickness. However, it is not necessary that they be of such construction since the inner surfaces of end walls 24 and 27 can be of any desired geometry. Grooves 98, and cylindrical indentation 99 are provided in order to form the bottom portion of the top bars 52 and 53, and indexing nub 59.

Cavity block 101 for the disensing body also has a conventional ridge 92 and is separable at its midportion 102 in order that its removal will not interfere with the pouring apertures or the pivoting nubs on the finished body. Each half 103 and 104 has arcuate surfaces 106 and 107, respectively, for forming the exterior surfaces of end walls 23 and 26. Arcuate surfaces 106 and 107 have protrusions for forming the pouring aperture on end wall 24 and sifting apertures 28 on end wall 27, respectively. In addition, the cavity block has indentations 108 and 109 for forming pivoting nubs 36, and indentations 111 for forming the upper portion of stop bars 52 and 53. Another indentation (not shown) below indentation 109 is provided to form indexing nub 59. A runner 112 for the introduction of a moldable material is also provided in the cavity block 101.

It should be noted that it is contemplated that a plurality of housings 14 and dispensing bodies 16 be molded at one time by conventionally providing a plurality of force and cavity sets as described earlier in one conventional injection molding machine. Any suitable plastic mix such as a high density polyethylene or polypropylene can be used to make the dispenser.

Modifications of the invention are possible. For example, if the wall of the container in which the invention is to be used is of plastic, the housing 14 can be formed as an integral part thereof. Then, of course, rim 17, shoulders 39 and bars 37 and 38 would not be necessary. .Also, the dispensing apertures need not be pouring and sifting apertures, but can be any desired type or shape.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for receiving said dispenser within the container, said dispenser comprising a dispensing body with an upper wall having a flat exterior surface to cover said wall aperture and be substantially flush with the surface of said wall of said container, said body having opposed end walls projecting from said upper Wall, each of said end walls having at least one dispensing aperture therethrough and being adapted to extend inwardly of said wall of said container when the exterior surface of said upper wall is substantially flush with the surface of said container wall, and said body being pivotable on a single axis transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof to allow selective pivoting of each of said end walls from a position within to a position exterior of said container.

2. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for receiving said dispenser within the container, said dispenser comprising a dispensing body having an upper wall for covering said aperture and two longitudinally opposed end walls projecting from said upper wall, each of said end walls having at least one dispensing aperture, said end walls being adapted to simultaneously extend into the interior of said container when said dispensing body is within said aperture, and said body being pivotable on 'a single axis transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof to allow selective pivoting of said end walls from a position within to a position exterior of said coutainer.

3. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for receiving the same, said dispenser comprising a housing adapted to fit within said aperture, said housing including two parallel, spaced apart side walls depending into said container, a dispensing body pivotally mounted between said side walls, said body having an upper wall with an exterior surface adapted to be substantially flush with the surface of said wall of said container and two longitudinally opposed end walls depending from said upper wall, each of said end walls having at least one dispensing aperture therethrough and being adapted to simultaneously extend inwardly of said wall of said container when said exterior surface of said upper wall is substantially flush with the surface of said container. wall, and said body being pivotal between said side walls of said housing on an axis transverse to said side Walls to allow selective pivoting of each of said end walls to a position exterior of said housing.

4. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for receiving the same, said dispenser comprising a housing adapted to fit within said aperture, said housing including two parallel, spaced apart side walls adapted to depend into the interior of said container, one of said side walls having a cut-out portion; a dispensing body open at the bottom pivotably mounted between said side walls on an axis transverse to said side walls, said body having an upper wall with an exterior surface adapted to substantially lie flush with the surface of said wall of said container, and a structure of generally rectangular horizontal cross section depending from said upper wall, said structure being comprised of two longitudinally opposed end Walls and parallel side walls, each of said end walls having at least one dispensing aperture therethrough, and each of said side walls being in face-to-face engagement with one of the side walls of said housing; and at least one stop bar on the side wall of said dispensing body in engagement with the side wall of said housing having the cut-out portion adapted to engage with an edge of said cut-out portion to limit the pivot motion of said dispensing body.

5. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for locating said dispenser, said dispenser comprising a housing adapted to fit within said aperture, said housing having two parallel, spaced apart side walls and two axially opposed end walls which are convexly arcuate in one direction adapted to depend into the interior of said container, a dispensing body open at its bottom within said housing pivotally mounted on an axis between said side walls, said body having two axially opposed end walls, each of which is convexly arcuate in one direction and has at least one dispensing aperture therethrough, said pivot axis being below the center of said side walls of said housing and being the axis of curvature of said arcuate end walls of said dispensing body and said housing.

6. A dispenser for a container having a wall with an aperture for locating said dispenser, said dispenser comprising a housing adapted to fit within said aperture, said housing having a rim adapted to be substantially flush with said wall of said container and having two parallel, spaced apart side Walls adapted to depend therefrom into the interior of said container, a dispensing body between said side walls and having two axially opposed end walls, each of said end walls having at least one dispensing aperture; said dispensing body being pivotally mounted "between said side walls on an axis transverse to the axis between said opposed end walls to allow pivoting of each of said end walls to a position exterior of said housing, and said housing having a cover guard adapted to be substantially flush with said upper wall of said container and being detachably connected to said rim, said cover guard preventing pivoting of said dispensing body until said cover guard is removed from said housing.

7. A container for pourable material having a wall with an aperture therein, and a dispenser seated in said aperture comprising a housing having opposite side walls extending into the container and a rim seated on said container wall; a dispensing body open at the bottom pivoted between said walls and having a top wall, side walls adjacent the side Walls of the housing, and opposed end walls each of which has at least a dispensing aperture; the pivot axis of the dispensing body being below the horizontal center line of its side walls whereby the body can be depressed at either end to expose a relatively large dispensing area at the other end; the top wall of the dispensing body being substantially flat to lie substantially flush with said container wall in the closed position; a cover guard detachably secured to the rim of said housing over said body to prevent pivoting of said body until said guard is removed; cooperable latching means on the dispensing body and the housing for latching the body in its pouring positions and in its closed position, and cooperable means on the container wall and on the dispenser for holding the dispenser on said container wall.

8. A container for pourable material which has a wall with an aperture therein, and a plastic dispenser seated in said aperture comprising a housing having opposite side Walls extending into the container and a rim seated on said container wall; projections on said housing walls; flaps extending into said container from edges of said aperture and in engagement with said projections to securely hold said housing on said wall; a dispensing body open at the bottom pivoted between said walls and having side walls in engagement with the side walls of the housing, and opposed end walls each of which has at least one dispensing aperture, and a top wall; the pivot axis of the dispensing body being below the horizontal center line of its side walls whereby the body can be depressed at either end to expose a relatively large dispensing area at the other end; cooperable stop means on the dispensing body and on the housing for preventing the pivoting of said body beyond its dispensing positions.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the end walls of said dispensing body are convex and said pivot axis is the axis of curvature of said end walls.

10. A container for pourable materal having a wall with an aperture therein, and a dispenser seated in said aperture comprising a housing having opposite side Walls extending into a container and a rim seated on said container wall; a dispensing body open at its bottom pivoted between said side walls and having opposed end walls each of which is provided with at least one dispensing aperture, and a top wall, whereby the body can be depressed at either end to expose such dispensing aperture at the other end; a cover guard detachably secured to the rim of said housing over said body to prevent pivoting of said body until said guard is removed; cooperable latching means on the dispensing body and the housing for latching the body in pouring positions and in a closed position, and cooperable means on the container wall and on the dispenser for holding the dispenser on said container wall.

11. A container for pourable material having a wall with an aperture therein and a dispenser seated in said aperture and projecting within said container, comprising a housing having a rim and opposite side walls extending from said rim into the container, a dispensing body open at its bottom pivoted about a single axis, between said side walls and having an end wall with at least one dispensing aperture whereby the body can be depressed at the end opposite the end having such dispensing aperture to expose such dispensing aperture from a position within to a position exterior of the container; and a fiat removable cover guard substantially flush with said container wall secured to the rim of said housing over said body to prevent pivoting of said body until said guard is removed.

12. A container for pourable material having a wall with an aperture therein; a dispenser seated on said wall and projecting into the container comprising an open top housing, the top of which is substantially flush with said container wall, and having opposite spaced-apart sides projecting downwardly from said top into the container, a dispensing body between said housing sides open at the bottom and having a top wall normally covering said open top of the housing and an end wall projecting downwardly into said container and having at least one dispensing aperture, and means connecting said dispensing body to said housing sides for pivotal movement about a single axis to all-ow selective pivoting of said body end wall from a position within to a position exterior of said container.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the pivot axis is between the ends of said dispensing body and below the center of the sides of said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,406 8/1943 Dukehart 222480 2,904,226 9/1959 Gilbert 222-531 X 3,144,180 8/1964 Phillips et al 222--531 X 3,148,805 9/1964 Corsette et al 222538 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A WALL WITH AN APERTURE FOR RECEIVING SAID DISPENSER WITHIN THE CONTAINER, SAID DISPENSER COMPRISING A DISPENSING BODY WITH AN UPPER WALL HAVING A FLAT EXTERIOR SURFACE TO COVER SAID WALL APERTURE AND BE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID WALL OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID BODY HAVING OPPOSED END WALLS PROJECTING FROM SAID UPPER WALL, EACH OF SAID END WALLS HAVING AT LEAST ONE DISPENSING APERTURE THERETHROUGH AND BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND INWARDLY OF SAID WALL OF SAID CONTAINER WHEN THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID UPPER WALL IS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER WALL, AND SAID BODY BEING PIVOTABLE ON A SINGLE AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF TO ALLOW SELECTIVE PIVOTING OF EACH OF SAID END WALLS FROM A POSITION WITHIN TO A POSITION EXTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER. 